Lots of people have hobbies. Some people collect old coins or foreign stamps; some do needlework; others spend most of their spare time on a particular sport.
A lot of people enjoy reading. But reading tastes differ widely. Some people only read newspapers or comics, some like reading novels, while others prefer books on astronomy, wildlife, or technological discoveries.
If I happen to be interested in horses or precious stones, I cannot expect everyone else to share my enthusiasm. If I watch all the sports programs on TV with great pleasure, I must put up with the fact that other 
people find sports boring.
Is there nothing that interests us all? 
Is there nothing that concerns everyone—no matter who they are or where they live in the world? Yes, dear Sophie, there are questions that certainly should interest everyone. They are precisely the questions this course is about.
What is the most important thing in life? If we ask someone living on the edge of starvation, the answer is food. If we ask someone dying of cold, the answer is warmth. If we 
put the same question to someone who feels lonely and isolated, the answer will probably be the company of other people.
But when these basic needs have been satisfied—will there still be something that everybody needs? Philosophers think so. They believe that man cannot live by bread alone. Of course everyone needs food. And everyone needs love and care. But there is something else—apart from that—which everyone needs, and that is to figure out who we are and why we are here.
Being interested in why we are here is not a “casual” interest like collecting stamps. People who ask such questions are taking part in a debate that has gone on as long as man has lived on this planet. How the universe, the earth, and life came into being is a bigger and more important question than who won the most gold medals in the last Olympics.This text is most probably taken from ________.
| A．a research paper | B．a course schedule |
| C．a personal letter | D．a book review |
Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
| A．Philosophical questions are as interesting as collecting stamps. |
| B．Thinking about philosophical questions is a serious interest. |
| C．Figuring out who we are and why we are here is man's basic needs. |
| D．Philosophy has universal appeal and concerns everybody in nature. |
The author believes that ________.
| A．no existing subject can interest everyone in the world |
| B．different people may have different interests and concerns |
| C．everyone has to figure out who we are and why we are here |
| D．people in modern society pay more attention to philosophical questions |
It is love that makes the world go round. And it is also love that has such power to overcome all difficulties. So we say: “Love will find a way.” As smile is a facial expression showing pleasure, affection, and friendliness, it is the commonest way to show our good will perfectly without saying anything. A Chinese saying runs: “never hit a person who is smiling at you.” It is a time-proven fact that the smile is a language all its own— a universal language—understood by the people of every nation in the world. We may not speak the same tongue as our foreign neighbors, but we smile in the same tongue. We need no interpreter for thus expressing love, happiness, or good will.
One day while shopping in a small town in southern California, it was my misfortune to be approached by a clerk whose personality contradicted mine. He seemed most unfriendly and not at all concerned about my intended purchase. I bought nothing, and marched angrily out of the store. My anger toward that grew with each step. Outside, standing at the corner, was a dark-complexion young man in his early twenties. His expressive brown eyes met and held mine, and in the next instant a beautiful, dazzling smile covered his face. I gave in immediately. The magnetic power of that shining smile drove away all bitterness within me, and I found the muscles in my own face happily responding. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” I remarked, in passing. Then, suddenly something inside me sent me turning back. “I really owe you a debt of gratitude,” I said softly. His smile deepened, but he made no attempt to answer. A Mexican woman and two men were standing nearby. The woman stepped forward and eyed me inquiringly. “Carlos, he no speak English,” she volunteered. “You want I should tell him something?” In that moment I felt transformed. Carlos’ smile had made a big person of me. My friendliness and good will toward all mankind stood ten feet tall. “Yes,” my reply was enthusiastic and sincere, “tell him I said ‘Thank you!’” “Thank you?” The woman seemed slightly puzzled. I gave her arm a friendly pat as I turned to leave. “Just tell him that,” I insisted. “He’ll understand. I am sure!” Oh, what a smile can do! Although I have never seen that young man again, I shall never forget the lesson he taught me that morning.
From that day on, I became smile – conscious, and I practice that diligently, anywhere and everywhere, with everybody. When I got excited in traffic, taking the right–of–way (公路用地) from the other car with my stupid mistake, I’d smile and shrug my shoulders apologetically. This action on my part would always draw a good–natured smile in return. If the other fellow was at fault – and if I could remember my resolution in time! – he’d get a broad smile of understanding. This took a bit of doing at first. I’ll admit it wasn’t always easy, but it was fun. The results were sometimes amazing. Many times, a broad, friendly smile would completely turn aside ill–feeling and tension. I’m wondering now how many tragic accidents could be avoided on our overcrowded highways, if every driver remembered to smile!The author got angry while shopping one day because .
| A．of the clerk’s unfriendliness and lack of concern |
| B．of her misfortune |
| C．she failed to purchase what she intended |
| D．a dark–complexion young man laughed at her |
From the conversation between the author and the Mexican woman, we can infer that the woman .
| A．was well–educated but unwilling to help others |
| B．was able to speak English |
| C．knew some English and was ready to help others |
| D．was familiar with the young man |
In the author’s opinion, if all people remembered to smile when driving, .
| A．many traffic accidents could be avoided |
| B．they would receive a good natural smile in return |
| C．they could get a broad smile of understanding |
| D．they wouldn’t feel any tension |
The best title for this passage could be .
| A．The Art of Smiling |
| B．The Universal Language |
| C．The Power of Love |
| D．The Magic Power of Friendship |
To extinguish (熄灭) different kinds of fires, several types of fire extinguishers have been invented. They must be ready for immediate use when fire breaks out. Most portable (手提式的) kinds operate for less than a minute, so they are useful only on small fires. The law requires ships, trains, buses and planes to carry extinguishers.
Since fuel, oxygen (氧气) and heat must be present in order for fire to exist, one or more of these things must be removed or reduced to extinguish a fire. If the heat is reduced by cooling the material below a certain temperature, the fire goes out. The cooling method is the most common way to put out a fire. Water is the best cooling material because it is low in cost and easy to get.
Another method of extinguishing fire is by cutting off the oxygen. This is usually done by covering the fire with sand, steam or some other things. A blanket may be used do cover a small fire.
A third method is called separation, which includes removing the fuel, or material easy to burn, from a fire, so that it can find no fuel.
The method that is used to put out a fire depends upon the type of fire. Fires have been grouped in three classes. Fires in wood, paper, cloth and the like are called Class A fires. These materials usually help keep the fire on. Such fires can be stopped most readily by cooling with water.If a fire breaks out on a bus, which of the follow should be ready there for you to use?
A.Sand B.Water C.A blanket. D.An extinguisher.
【 小题2】 To cover a small piece of burning wood with a basin in order to stop the fire is an example of _______.
A.separating the fire B.reducing the heat
C.removing the fuel D.cutting off the oxygenIn choosing how to put out a fire, we should first be clear about_______.
| A．when it breaks out | B．how it comes about |
| C．what kind it is | D．where it takes place |
What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
| A．Another class of fires |
| B．Another type of extinguishers |
| C．How fires break out. |
| D．How fires can be prevented. |
A home computer not only helps children master the old ways of learning, but also opens up possibilities that simply aren’t available in traditional education. Some software, for example, allows kids to make decisions and see the results in different situations. The World Wide Web encourages young minds to move easily from link to link, topic to topic. The best software draws children into learning by making them curious—what if I click on this picture, drag this over here, visit that website?
Knowing how to use a computer also encourages a child’s confidence. Kids figure out quickly that computers are powerful, and mastering the machine makes them feel grown-up. In turn, feeling confident on a computer often translates to academic(学术的)confidence. Researchers have found that attitudes toward writing, for example, improve when students write on a computer.
Perhaps most importantly, computers can enrich family life. Forget the idea that computer kids are separated. Children like to use the computer with adults and other kids, asking questions and comparing results. “The Internet is a unique opportunity to bring resources home, ”notes Susan Haugland, PhD, Cape Girardeau, Mo. , author of Computer and Young Children:A World of Discovery.
Although the benefits of computers are real, they have disadvantages, too. Kids can lose their way, wasting hours on mindless software of violent games. Just as parents have always helped children make good choices about everything from friends to food, books to TV, now we must make sure they get the best out of computers.The passage is mainly talking about______.
| A．the disadvantages of children’s using computers |
| B．the advantages of children’ using computers |
| C．the development of computers |
| D．the fact that using computers makes children lose their way |
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of a home computer?
| A．It provides new ways of learning. |
| B．It encourages children’ confidence. |
| C．It can enrich family life. |
| D．Kids can play violent games on it. |
What effects do computers have on family life?
| A．They reduce the connection between family members. |
| B．They destroy the relationship between parents and kids. |
| C．They provide more opportunities of communication. |
| D．They make all the family members study together. |
According to the last paragraph, we can learn that we should______.
| A．let children use computers freely |
| B．forbid children to use computers in their spare time |
| C．permit children to use any software they like |
| D．help children make good use of the computers |
It is the injury from breathing cigarettes that has led to the invention of e-cigarettes. Using these cigarettes requires small power from battery and these cigarettes are also available in various flavors and varied nicotine levels. Owing to the fact that the charge from a short cable is required, carrying the electronic cigarettes can’t be that easy in some case. This means that the smoking habits of individuals are in fact controlled! Also, the human body is protected from harmful smoke that is not given off by the electrical version of these new age cigarettes.
The cigarettes are in a fine pack and they are durable(持久的)! For the first time ever, tobacco smokers do not have to carry matches and lighters which may cause burns to their finger tips and boring holes into their clothes! The result is basic dignity for the smokers because they will not disrespect the non-smokers among them by polluting the air that they breathe. Electronic cigarettes and the packages they come in can also be reused, which means that a lot of money can be saved.
They are environmentally friendly. For starters, this kind of cigarettes cannot be put on unless with a source of an electrical current. This means that rooms and pathways do not, under any circumstances, get filled with smoke just because a smoker passed by! The smoke is done away, meaning the air, even around a smoker, is always fresh! Disposals(处理) for the cigarettes have also been invented so that there are no harmful smoking bits and pieces carelessly thrown away which pollute the environment!
E-cigarettes have made the world a better place at the very least. Those who are addicted to smoking on a regular or even irregular basis can therefore do so responsibly and give better consideration to their health.It’s learned from Paragraph 1 that .
| A．the original smoking habits of smokers are hard to control |
| B．e-cigarettes have different tastes and nicotine levels |
| C．the electronic cigarettes are convenient to carry |
| D．the short cable is used to determine how fully the batteries are charged |
What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?
| A．Why do e-cigarettes produce no smoke. |
| B．E-cigarettes are environmentally friendly. |
| C．Why are disposals for the cigarettes invented. |
| D．E-cigarettes benefit both smokers and non-smokers. |
According to the author, e-cigarettes .
| A．matter less to heavy smokers |
| B．are right alternatives to smokers |
| C．shouldn’t be overvalued |
| D．should be made cheap |
What’s the purpose of this passage?
| A．To introduce an invention. |
| B．To describe the wide spread of e-cigarettes. |
| C．To explain the injury from breathing cigarettes. |
| D．To show how to smoke e-cigarettes. |
According to sociologists(社会学家), every modern industrial society has some form of social stratification(阶层). Class, power and status are important in deciding people's rank in society.
Class means a person's economic position in society. A commonly used classification is lower class, middle class and upper class. While sociologists disagree on how these terms should be exactly defined, they do describe societies like the United States quite well. One study shows that 53% of Americans belong to the lower class, 46% the middle class, and 1% the upper class. Interestingly, a surgeon earning $500,000 a year and a bus driver earning $50,000 a year both regard themselves as the middle class!
Power refers to the amount of control a person has over other people. Obviously, people in positions of great power (such as governors) exercise(行使)big power, but people who take orders from others have less power. Power and class do not always go hand in hand, however. For example, the governor of a state has great power, but he or she may not belong to a corresponding (相应的)economic class. Generally, however, there is a relationship between power and class. To our knowledge, there aren't too many people who aren't millionaires in the U．S. Senate!
Status is the honor or respect attached to a person's position in society. It can also be affected by power and class, but not necessarily so. For example, a university professor may have a high status but not belong to a high social class or have a lot of power over others.What can we learn about “the middle class” from Paragraph 2?
| A．People earning $50,000 a year belong to the middle class. |
| B．Nearly half Americans belong to the middle class. |
| C．People generally consider bus drivers as the middle class. |
| D．Sociologists have a clear definition of the middle class. |
According to the text, we know that ________.
| A．Power and class do not always correspond with each other |
| B．Status refers to a person's economic position in society |
| C．People with high status have a lot of control over others |
| D．Class is less important in deciding a person's social rank |
Which of the following shows the structure of the whole text?
